Joshua won't take Parker's drug-cheat bait

By Associated Press 16 January 2018, 12:00AM

LONDON (AP) — If Joseph Parker wants to rile Anthony Joshua it's going to be tough.

Not even being branded a drugs cheat ahead of their heavyweight unification fight provoked a mellowed Joshua.

"There's so much boring trash-talk that nothing is new anymore," Joshua said after a news conference with Parker on Tuesday to launch their March 31 fight in Cardiff, Wales.

"A lot of things used to bother me, seven or eight years ago. It takes a lot more to get to me now. Still savage, but I'm more mentally focused now."

It's why the IBF and WBA belt-holder can laugh off Parker using a radio interview in New Zealand to give him the moniker the "king of steroids" and claim he has evaded drug testing.

"Can I sue?" Joshua quipped.

There's no prospect of Joshua taking on Parker in court, only in the ring to capture the New Zealander's WBO crown. In fact, Parker has withdrawn his claim.

"I know my records are clean. Every time I am tested," Joshua said in his hometown of London. "I know what I've paid to be voluntarily tested. That's why I don't bite at what he says.

"If I'm not clean, you'll find out during this fight. If I haven't been clean for all my other fights, you'll see me struggle against Parker because anything I have been taking will be out of my system."

The big-punching rivals will be defending unbeaten records in the Principality Stadium. Joshua is 20-0 and Parker 24-0.

"You'll find out in this fight whether I'm the super-human," Joshua said, "or I've got something pushing on this super-human power that he claims I have."

By Associated Press 16 January 2018, 12:00AM
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